Pharos Launches GPS/LBS Nav Combo, Smartphones

November 13, 2008

Pharos Science and Applications Inc. has unveiled its Pharos Smart Navigator, a combination package of navigation software and services designed for Microsoft Windows Mobile devices, which is debuting on Pharos' self-branded GPS smartphones.

Smart Navigator combines onboard navigation software with real-time location-based services (LBS) for traffic, maps, incremental map updates, dynamic points of interest (POI) search, and its Follow Me friend finder service. While Smart Navigator will be available to consumers in December, it is making its consumer debut first on Pharos' own Traveler 117 and 127, which will also hit online retailers in December. Bulk licenses of Smart Navigator for device manufacturers and mobile operators are available directly from Pharos, the company says.

Smart Navigator users can instantly access maps of the United States, Canada, or other countries and use them with intelligent route calculation and turn-by-turn route guidance via graphic and text instructions as well as voice prompts, according to Pharos. It will navigate using maps resident on a device or download maps on demand wirelessly from Pharos. Its routing calculation can occur either on the phone or on Pharos' server, the company says.

Smart Navigator's LBS include:

Follow Me, which allows people to view one another's GPS-derived locations on wireless Windows Mobile devices with GPS capability or on the Internet.
Smart Traffic, which provides real-time traffic incident and speed data as well as video feeds derived directly from state departments of transportation, highway patrol agencies, and other sources.
Smart Finder, which finds nearby business or attraction locations, addresses, and phone numbers from the Pharos POI server. Pharos POI hosts approximately twelve million POIs including national parks, beaches, forests, earthquake faults, and other natural and historical features from the U.S. Geologic Survey.
Maps On Demand, which enables users to download regional maps based on their GPS position location or corridor maps based on routes to their destinations. Dynamically cut maps ensure that the user is centered on the requested map area, and features automatic route recalculation when necessary, displaying the new route, according to Pharos.

Maps can be downloaded for $1.99 for one day of access, $4.99 for one week of access, $6.99 for one month of access, or $49.99 for one year of access. Smart Navigator will be available in December from vendors for a suggested retail price of $99.95.

Hardware Specifications

The Traveler 117 and Traveler 127 smartphone specs shape up as follows:

Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system
Qualcomm MSM7201-90 400 MHz processor:
256 MB flash ROM memory, 128 MB SDRAM
unlocked GSM quad band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, EDGE/GPRS
3.5G tri band 850/1900/2100 MHz, UMTS 384 Kb/s, HSDPA 7.2 Mb/s, HSUPA 2 Mb/s
up to 4 hours talk time and 200 hours standby time
NMEA0183/assisted-GPS compatible GPS receiver
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth v2.0+EDR
2.0 megapixel camera for picture or video; 0.3 megapixel front camera for video conferences
1410 mAh Li-Ion, rechargeable/replaceable batery
4.8 ounces in weight

Traveler 117

dimensions are 4.44 x 2.28 x 0.60 inches
2.8" resistive TFT LCD touch screen display, 480 x 640 VGA with 18-bit 262K color capability

Traveler 127

dimensions are 4.57 x 2.44 x 0.60 inches
2.5" TFT LCD display with touch panel, 320 x 240 QVGA with 16-bit 65K colors
qwerty keyboard

The Traveler 117 and 127 carry a suggested retail price of $529.95 and will be available in December from online retailers including Amazon.com, Dell.com, eXpansys.com, and Newegg.com.

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